Zen Reeferer
Well-known member
Am looking for pix that show the progression of a deep sand bed, from set-up to functionality.
I've got a 60 cube mixed reef (aiming for LPS's and SPS's when mature) w/4"~ sugar-fine arragonite, (dry bags of arragonite) 2850 gph closed loop w/500gph thru sump. No substrate in sump, just equipment, live rock, cheato and pods. 1 ocellarus and 2 chromis'.
I've also got a 26 gal. Uniquarium. Mostly a 'softy' mixed reef w/2"+ of same dry, sugar-fine arragonite, and 2 - 3" of Carib Sea Live (wet) Sand. (pre-existing, but mixed with the new arragonite) 350 gph thru system, plus a MJ 1200 in-tank. (no substrate in sump) 1 yellow watchman goby, 1 six line wrasse, 2 pajamma cardinals.
To both tanks I have have added critter populations (1/2 lb Garf's Grunge to smaller tank, 1 1/2 lbs to larger tank)
Both have had the arragonite substrate for around 3 to 4 months, but the 26 tank's substrate looks almost pristine, but below the surface, the 60's substrate is looking brownish and 'bubbly', with occational worm tracks. Corals are fat-n-sassy in both tanks, as are the fish.
Nitrates in both tanks read around 10 on Aq. Pharm. test kit. 0 ammonia, 0 phosphates, 0 nitrites. Calcium at 480 or so.
The smaller tank has around 1/2" or so more substrate, but would that make such a difference in appearance?
I'd like to compare with others' sucessful DSB's, if possible, to try and figure out which tank is progressing properly. With such a difference in appearance, I'm curious which one is progressing "normally". (if either, lol)
Thanks bunches...
...James
I've got a 60 cube mixed reef (aiming for LPS's and SPS's when mature) w/4"~ sugar-fine arragonite, (dry bags of arragonite) 2850 gph closed loop w/500gph thru sump. No substrate in sump, just equipment, live rock, cheato and pods. 1 ocellarus and 2 chromis'.
I've also got a 26 gal. Uniquarium. Mostly a 'softy' mixed reef w/2"+ of same dry, sugar-fine arragonite, and 2 - 3" of Carib Sea Live (wet) Sand. (pre-existing, but mixed with the new arragonite) 350 gph thru system, plus a MJ 1200 in-tank. (no substrate in sump) 1 yellow watchman goby, 1 six line wrasse, 2 pajamma cardinals.
To both tanks I have have added critter populations (1/2 lb Garf's Grunge to smaller tank, 1 1/2 lbs to larger tank)
Both have had the arragonite substrate for around 3 to 4 months, but the 26 tank's substrate looks almost pristine, but below the surface, the 60's substrate is looking brownish and 'bubbly', with occational worm tracks. Corals are fat-n-sassy in both tanks, as are the fish.
Nitrates in both tanks read around 10 on Aq. Pharm. test kit. 0 ammonia, 0 phosphates, 0 nitrites. Calcium at 480 or so.
The smaller tank has around 1/2" or so more substrate, but would that make such a difference in appearance?
I'd like to compare with others' sucessful DSB's, if possible, to try and figure out which tank is progressing properly. With such a difference in appearance, I'm curious which one is progressing "normally". (if either, lol)
Thanks bunches...
...James
